Berkeley, William Lowry
Lance Corporal
No. 7610, 3rd Regiment, South African Infantry
Killed in action on Tuesday 24 April 1917 (aged 27)
Buried:
Cabaret Rouge British Cemetery, France (Grave XV. L. 14)
Commemorated:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Bangor Grammar School (initials inscribed as W.B.)
Campbell College Belfast
Bangor Rugby Football Club
Hamilton Road Presbyterian Church Bangor
Sinclair Seamen’s Presbyterian Church, Belfast
Journey of Remembering Belfast Book of Honour
BIOGRAPHY
William Lowry Berkeley was born on 9 August 1889 in Raphoe, County Donegal and he was a son of the Rev William Lowry Berkeley and Margaret (Maggie) Berkeley (nee Black) who were married on 4 March 1884 in Elmwood Avenue Presbyterian Church Belfast. The Rev William Lowry Berkeley from Raphoe was a son of the Rev Lowry Berkeley. Maggie Black from Belfast was a daughter of James Black, a merchant.
The Rev William Lowry Berkeley was a Presbyterian Minister and he and Margaret has at least four children:
Lowry Edmonds (twin, born at 5.30 pm, 6 November 1885 in Raphoe, Co Donegal)
James Edgar Black (twin, born at 5.40 pm, 6 November 1885 in Raphoe, Co Donegal; died of enteritis 8 June 1891 at Cliftonville, Belfast)
William Lowry (born 9 August 1889 in Raphoe, Co Donegal)
Susanna Black (born 7 June 1894 in The Manse, Cliftonville, Belfast)
When the Rev Berkeley was Minister of Sinclair Seaman’s Presbyterian Church Belfast the Berkeley family lived at Cliftonville, Belfast.
The Rev William Lowry Berkeley died of heart failure in The Manse, Cliftonville, Belfast on 11 December 1901 (aged 43).
William Lowry Berkeley was educated at Bangor Grammar School and Campbell College Belfast (from 1899 until 1904).
His brother, Lowry Edmonds Berkeley, also attended Campbell College and during the First World War he served with the Connaught Rangers.
Lowry Edmonds Berkeley was a son-in-law of manufacturing agent John Paton of Ardmore, Bangor and a brother-in-law of Sub-Lieutenant Norman Giles Paton who was killed in action on 22 August 1918. Lowry Edmonds Berkeley, a warehouseman, and Margaret Brown Paton were married on 26 December 1914 in Helen’s Bay Presbyterian Church.
During the First World War, Lance Corporal William Lowry Berkeley served with the 3rd Regiment, South African Infantry and he cited his sister Susanna as his next-of-kin.
Lance Corporal William Lowry Berkeley was 27 when he was killed on 24 April 1917 and he was buried in Cabaret Rouge British Cemetery, France. There is an inscription on his CWGC headstone:
FOR US
THE PARTING AND THE SORROW
FOR HIM
GOD SPEED
Lance Corporal William Lowry Berkeley is commemorated in Bangor Grammar School (initials inscribed as W.B.); in Campbell College Belfast; in Bangor Rugby Football Club; in Hamilton Road Presbyterian Church Bangor; in Sinclair Seamen’s Presbyterian Church, Belfast and in the Belfast Book of Honour (Page 38).